Sewer Backup

​A flood of sewage into your basement is dangerous to your health and costly to repair. Installing a backflow prevention valve can help prevent flooding. If you live in a low-lying area, you may want to consider buying sewer backup insurance.

​Across the country, communities are experiencing more severe weather, especially intense rainfalls. Sudden downpours overburden sewers and stormwater infrastructure and lead to sewage backing up into homes.

Canada’s costliest natural disaster ever was the June 2013 torrential rainfall that flooded towns in southern Alberta. Insured damage was more than $1.72 billion. In June and July of that same year, severe thunderstorms struck Quebec and Ontario and resulted in more than $1.2 billion in insured damages.

​Sewer Backup Insurance

This coverage is useful in some low-lying areas, especially if your area has combined storm and sanitary sewers. You may also want to install a backflow prevention device or valve, if it is permitted by local codes.

Before purchasing sewer backup insurance, you should consider:

Your existing elevation relative to sea level

Neighbourhood density relative to the size of your sewer line

Frequency of severe weather in your neighbourhood and how often sewer backups have been reported.

For more information about your coverage options, talk to your insurance representative.

How a Backflow Prevention Device/Valve Helps Prevent Flooding

A mainline backflow prevention valve can help prevent sewage in an overloaded main sewer line from backing up into your basement. Placed directly into the sewer lateral at the foot of your basement wall, the valve automatically closes if sewage backs up from the main sewer. Learn more about how to install a backflow prevention valve.

IBC Helps Municipalities Forecast Sewer Backup

After several years of research and development, IBC recently unveiled a new predictive tool for municipalities to help them pinpoint vulnerabilities in their sewer and stormwater infrastructure that could lead to sewer backup and basement flooding. Learn more about MRAT.